Flotation device



V. GUINZBURG.

FLOTATION DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 18, 1920.

Patented Jan. 4, 1921,

2 sHEeTs-sHEET s.

INVENTOR V. GUINZBURG.

FLUTATION DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I8, 1920.

Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A' INVENTOR a'c'or QZL l UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

VICTOR GUINZBURGV, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 I. .'B. KLEINERTRUBBER COMPANY, NEW YORK, N. Y.,

A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

Application filed September 18, 1920. Serial No. 411,286.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VICTOR GUINZBURG, a. citizen of the 'United States,and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have inventeda certain new and useful Improvement in Flotation Devices, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a flotation or swimming device in the natureof an inflatable bagv havin 'means for securing it to the body and aapted to be used to support the body while in the water.

The object of this invention is to provide a device, which will besimple and economical in construction, which will be-eifective inoperation and which can be worn without interfering with the movementsof the body while swimming.

With these objects and other objects in View, I have devised theparticular arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth and moreparticularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereofin which Figure 1 is a plan View of a flotation device made inaccordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same on the line 2-2 of Fi1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on t e line 3-3 of Fig. l, looking in thedirection of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view vof a portion of the inflatable bag showingthe construction of the inflation valve.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1 looking in thedirection of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a view showing the manner in which the device appears when inuse.

Throughout the various views of the drawings, similar referencecharacters designate similar parts. In the preferred einl bodiment of myinvention as disclosed in the accompanying drawing, l indicates aninflatable bag which is substantially rectangular in shape rand may bemade by transversely folding a square section of material and securingthe edges together. The edges of the bag l are secured together bystitching 2 and are additionally reinforced by means of a binding strip3 which incloses the edges and is cemented thereover. The manner inwhich the device is manufactured forms the subject matter of a separateapplication for l strip of material folded upon patent, said a plicationbeing' Serial No. 411,285, med epi. 18, 1920.

At 4 is the inflation valve which consists of a collapsible or flexible'rubber tube 5 which lies between the folds of the bag and extendssubstantially co-eXtensive with the outer or free edge 6 of the bag.This tube 5 1s cemented or otherwise secured to the bag 1 and securedwithin the tube 5 is a threaded'sleeve 6a. The sleeve 6 proj ectsoutsideof the bag and is adapted to receive a closure cap 7 to prevent theescape of air from the interior of the bag.

It will be seen that the bag may be inflated by means of air blownthrough the sleeve 6a and through the flexible or collapsible tube 5. Toprevent the escape of air 'while the cap 7 is being placed in position,the flexible or collapsible tube 5 may be squeezed or pressed togetheras indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 4.

At 8 are the tapes which are utilized .to secure the device about thebody of the user. These tapes are attached to the bag 1 through themedium of triangular tabs 9. These tabs each consist of itself with thetapes 8 lying between the folded portions and cemented therein.

If desired however, the tabs 9 may comprise two sections of materialadhesively secured together with the ends of the tapes vnecessity for'stitching them in place or otherwise perforating the inflatable bag.

In addition, the arrangement of the tabs forms a substantial joint atthe corners of the bag and 'aids in preventing leakage of air at thosepoints.

In Fig. 6, the manner in which the device is used is disclosed. The bagis secured about the body by means of the tapes 8 and the bag 1 isfreely pivotal in any direction that it may be moved by the pressure ofthe water. The position in which the device is used enables it to beworn without in any Way interfering with the movements of the wearer.The device is preferably made of a rubberized, air and waterproof'material, enabling it to be inflated and retain the air indefinitely.Usually, devices of this character are made of a material which will notretain the air until they are moistened by the water and they cannot beinated while they are dry. In applicants construction, however, amaterial is preferably used which will enable the device to be inflatedregardless of' whether it is moistened or not. Such a material may bethin rubber sheeting, rubberized silk or any material of like character.

From the foregoing, it is obvious that my invention is not to berestricted to the exact embodiment shown but is broad enough to coverall structures coming within the scope of the annexed claims.

What I claim is 1. A device of the class described coniprising aninflatable body, tabs extending from the securing edge of said body andsecuring tapes held within said tabs.

2. A device of the class described comprising an inflatable body, tabspendant therefrom, securing tapes held within the tabs and overlying theinflatable body.

. 3. A device of the class described comprising an inflatable bodyhaving a securing tape, a tab secured to and projecting from said body,said tab comprising a triangulated strip of material folded upon itselfwith a portion of. the inflatable bag lying between and secured to thefolded portions of said tab, said tape having one of its ends seuredbetween the folded portions of said ta 5. A device of the classdescribed comw prising an inflatable bag, securing tapes projecting fromtwo corners thereof and an inflation valve lying co-extensive with theouter edge of said bag with its end projecting outside of said bag.

6. A device of the class described comprising an inflatable bag having asecuring tape, a tab in which said tape is held, said tab comprising twolayers of material be tween which a portion of the inflatable bag andone end of the tape is secured.

Signed at the city, county and State of New York this 16th day ofSeptember, 1920.

'VICTOR GUINZBURG.

